Flexible shafting.



G. H. HAYES.

FLEXIBLE SHAPTING. l

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5, 1911.

L09 L51 l Patented Mar. 31, 1914,

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UNITED STATES GEORGE H. HAYES, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIG-NOR TO CHICAGO PNEUMATIC TOOL CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLEXIBLE SHAFTING.

Specification of Application filed October 5,

Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914. serial No. 652,944.

To al? wlw/n. it may concern.' Y

Bc it known that I, Gnoncn H. HAYES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a cert-ain new and useful Improvement in Flexible Shafting, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ot' this specification. I

My invention relates to flexible shafting and is designed to provide a new and etlicient shaft of the character described.

More particularly in accordance with one form ol carrying out my invention I employ plug and socket members, of which the socket members have longitudinal bores adapted to accommodate the plug members and in which the plug members areI inserted within the socket members,v and then suit-able retaining devices employed to prevent withdrawal ot the plug members. In a preferred form of the invention the interior bore of the socket members preferably has a cross-sectional configuration which may be triangular, rectangular'. or polyhedral, although the word polyhcdral is intended to include any multi-sided plane figure. The socket members then in this embodiment of the invention may be provided with heads having an outline conforming to the outline ofthe bore at their port-ion ot largest cross-scction and tapering toward the extremity ofthe heads to permit flexibility of the completed structure.

What is above set forth is intended to represent one form of carrying out the invention, although it will be readily seen from the description which will follow in connection with the drawing that my invention is capable of broad application and that the general principles herein are new in accordance with the claims appended.

I will describe more specifically one form of carrying out my invention in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment thereof, in which:

Figure l a sectional view of a flexible shaft constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line fz-o of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line b-b of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a view showing the parts in their coperative relation before assembly; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line c-c of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary ployed.

Referring more particularly to Fig. l, I show a portion ot' a flexible shaft and its terminating connecting socket at one extremity. The shaft may be extendedat its opposite extremity and united to some suitable driving mcchanism orI driven mechanism :as is well understood. In accordance with my invention, I employ for the constructfon of my improved flexible shaft socket members l, l associated with suitable plug members 2, 2. In the preferred form, two plug members are associated with each sockecmember. The socket members are shown more clearly by reference to Figs. 4: and 5 in which it is seen that the socket members may have, if desired, a partial spherical outline with squared ends and may vhave a centra-l bore 2 of rectangular outline or configuration. 2 as shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 6 have shanks 3 and heads t, which heads have at their portion of largest cross-section, namely at 5, an outline substantially conforming to the outline of the bore 2a. The heads then taper toward a portion of decreased cross-section as at (S, which taper is preferably along the lines ot' an arc as in-` dicated at 7. It will thus be seen that the plug members may be inserted within the socket member and upon rotation of eitherone, the other will rotate as the outline otl the bore conforms to the outline of the head. It will likewise be seen that in thus constructing the devices it is new to provide two elements such as the plug and socket members which may be permitted to move longitudinally of each other and yetvmaintain their corresponding satisfactory power transmitting relation. ing construction of the head 4 permits a bending or angular displacement between view of one ot the plugs emthe plug and socket members, while yet.

maintaininv the same or substantially the same satis actory power transmitting relation between the said plug and socket members. It will thus bc seen that plug and socket members have a construction likewise, irrespective of the longitudinal movement between them in which a bore of polyhedrai cross-section is associated with la head of similar outline for power transmitting-- purposes. The plug members are insertedwithin the socket members and thenv suitable The socket membersl Likewise the taperfj me? be eeed ers and eldiirithin grooves i", E) proiu seid soclieJ members to prevent normvel of the plug members all as is Clearly apparent from the assembly 'f'.'ievf Fig. l. Very eiiicient power transg shaft is thus provided. The power i"ting"sheii't may be surrounded by eoiied spring l0 if desired to provide s practically continuous vcj-,Jlindriead outline the ei'or, weren springvv may be izisf'ened .y ,d M within ey bi.

sizing, to e terminal soelie il. end +S l is provided for r Alich also has e.

fttnoinnent element i le into the elethe :lement to hold the parts 12 und 13 together. suitable connection devices may be inserted withintheopen end or' the terminal socket ll tel cooperate with the tongue 17, wheremv to unite the shaft to a prime mover er en elon'ientes the ease may b The siinplniLTV of the structure will thus be spoor-ent the general features invoiw also',

albi

speeilic form us already stated, lult broadly eluini new und desire to secure by Let* ters ljutent the following:

l, A ilexible shaft having u socket meinber provided with e longitudinal bore tlnsoughout its length, ot plug members huving heads :adapted to enter the opposite ends "i bore, seid heads being entirelyy inclosed by seid socket member and being cabore ot it sperii'ic sheit constructed in accorihtuce with my invention hais herein been described, i de not linut myself to sueh` Loenen iin the socket pable of longitudinal movement with respect tov euch other Within said socket .icinber, euch plug member consisting of t rod provided with an, upset portion to form :i heed zu euch extremity thereof, the outline of said heads corresponding to thepoutline of said bore and tapering eirculnrly from their point of' largest cross-scction in one direciion, lthe said bore being non-circular in cross-section, und means provided upon seid socket member to prevent Withdrawal oi' said plug members from said socket member.

2. A. flexible shaft having e socket member provided with u longitudinal bore of substantially the same cross-section throughout, said member having :t spherical con tour, of plug members having heads adapted ,to enter the opposite ends of said bore, said heads being entirely mclosed by said socket member und being capable of longitudinal movement with respect to euch other within seid socket member, each plug member consisting of :L circular rod provided with an upset portion to 'form ahead at euch eX- tremity thereof, the outline of said heads corresponding to the out-line oit' said bore and tapering circuler-ly from their point of largest crosssectionl in -one direction, the said bore being non-circular in cross-section, und menus provided upon Suid socket member to prevent withdrawal of said plug nicmbers irom seid socket member, Said means including circular spring rings :ind a plu rnlity ot alined apertures Within the socket member engaged by said rings. y

ln witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my nfuue this 28th day oi September A. D., 1011.

GEORGE H. HAYES.

'Vilitnesses MAX YV. Zener., HAZEL JONES. 

